Unless you're just out of a coma or have been living in a cave in Pakistan, you've probably heard that this is Super Bowl week. In fact, NFL Network has promised 55 hours of coverage between now and kickoff. It's all sure to be compelling, no doubt. In any event, both teams arrived in Tampa early Monday, and they're already holding press conferences. After the jump, some of the choicest nuggets.
Mike Tomlin (when NBCSports.com's Tom Curran asked "where he comes down on Hines Ward's style of play" and if there are times "he pushes the edge of the envelope"): "I don't [think he pushes the edge of the envelope]. ... I don't subscribe to some of the suggestions you have out there. He's just a physical football player who plays the game the way it's supposed to be played. He's a football player first, a wide receiver second..."
Ben Roethlisberger (on his relationship with Ken Whisenhunt, which has previously been described as rocky): "You know what, Coach Whis was awesome for me, whether it was on the golf course or on the football field or the meeting rooms. A very good mentor for me. Really help me come the player that I am today ... and I'm really happy and proud that he's here and get to play against him."
Hines Ward (talking about his injured knee, playing against their former coach): "[My knee is] better -- 10 times better. I knew I wasn't really going to do much last week so there wasn't even any need for me to try to practice... I don't have a brace on, I'm walking around fine ... but I haven't cut, I haven't really [run], so I really can't tell you ... I probably won't find that out till Wednesday or Thursday...
[Re: facing Whisenhunt] "It still comes down to the players. You look back at [last year's Steelers-Ravens] game, they had a huge punt return for a touchdown. That had nothing to do with Whis... It's great that he knows the players, but we know him, too."
Troy Polamalu (on in-game trash-talking): "We do have plenty of [trash-talkers] on our defense, for one. And it's cool, though... Pittsburgh has always had that nasty mentality on our defense. Yeah, we have plenty of talkers on our team. I don't enjoy doing it; a lot of times I'm so tired I don't even want to communicate a call because I don't want to yell because I get so tired (laughing). That's probably the main thing. Sometimes it's hard to believe how much guys can actually talk during the game while their running and sprinting.
Larry Fitzgerald (on the inevitable questions about Anquan Boldin): Coach [Haley] is a really fiery guy -- he loves his job ... there's a lot of emotion on the sidelines and sometimes, you know, things are not handled the best way ... We handle everything internally ... and there was nothing negative said after the game ... we hugged and kissed in the locker room and we got prepared to come [to Tampa]. ...
Coach Haley is an in-your-face kind of coach. He's going to push you all the time and, you know, I enjoy his coaching style. He gets the best out of me every single day.
Anquan Boldin (on his exposure to the Cardinals organization before he was drafted by the team in 2003): "Living in Florida, you really don't get Cardinals' games, you really don't pay attention to them as an organization or as a team. I really didn't have an impression going in."
And that, in 31 words, embodies the Arizona Cardinals franchise. Come Sunday night, that could all change.
